'Administration Report of the Persian Gulf Political Residency for the Years 1915-1919' [‎119r] (244/396)

FOR THE YEAR 191 8,
3
Will, in command, and Sergeant Ooomber being brutally murdered. On the
same date, however, the Kashgais were defeated by a force of Indian troops, the
casualties being estimated at 600 for the enemy as against 51 on our side, and
the situation to some extent relieved. Active hostilities continued, however,
throughout June, culminating on June 20th, when the enemy reached their
greatest strength in the valley. On this date their forces in the Shiraz plain
were estimated at 1,810, in occupation of various positions on the West and
North of Shiraz. A.I the same time the internal situation in the city of
Shiraz was far from satisfactory, and Qawam-ul-Mnlk for a short time was
evidently wavering. Sir P. Sykes, with the South Persia Rifles, and approxi
mately 2,500 Lndian troops, maintained his defence until July 7th, when
a column was sent out to Chenar Rahdar, before which Soulet-ed-Douleb
beat a hasty retreat. Meanwhile preparations w r ere made at Bushire for the
formation of a force to take decisive action in the autumn. The construc
tion of a Tramway from Bushire, begun in July, w r as taken by all concerned
' as a definite indication that the British Government had decided to deal
effectively with the perplexing problems of Ears. The formation of the force
continued throughout July and August, during which two months the situa
tion in France was transformed in favour of the Allies.
The rebel chiefs of the Bushire Hinterland first showed their uneasiness
as early as June 20th, when they enquired the object of the British Govern
ment in landing additional troops, and w r ere informed that this was due to
the hostile acts of Soulet-ed-Douleh and Nasir-i-Diwan. They returned to
the charge on August 21ith, with a statement that the railway, if con
structed, would threaten " their independence ". This letter was handed to
the Darya Begi, who sent a suitable reply. By September 21st they had
collected a force of about 300 men at Ohaghadak, 11 miles from Bushire, the
three leaders, Ghazanfar-es-Sultaneh of Borasjun, Shaikh Hussain of Chah-
kutah, and Zair Khidhar of Tangistan, being present in person. On September
25th telegraphic orders were received by the Governor from the Prime Minister,
directing him to afford every assistance to the British troops in their task in
opening the road, constructing the railway and establishing order ; he was
also directed to punish severely any persons opposing this friendly enterprise,
A proclamation containing these orders w r as at once published, and the rebel
leaders strongly urged by the Governor in a separate letter to come in
to him and receive the orders of their Government, a guarantee against the
death penalty and imprisonment being given. They refused to come in,
and made highly suspicious proposals for an interview about four miles in front
of the advanced posts. An alternative proposal for a meeting 1J miles out, in
view of our posts, was rejected by them, though they sent in as an envoy a
notorious agitator, formerly a, bankrupt merchant of Bashire, Mirza Ali
Kazeruni. The envoy began by asking the price placed by the British
Government on his services, and when these had been rejected admitted that
his employers had no intention of obeying any orders given them by any
Persian authority, and would under no circusmtances permit the construc
tion of the railway without a fighf, as such construction would be fatal to
their privileged position. When asked the Khans' reason for refusing to
obey the Prime Minister's orders, he replied contemptuously "No one knows
what Tehran is, now-a-days". He was consequently directed to return
immediately to his employers, and warn them that unless they immediately
evacuated their positions, they would be responsible for any bloodshed which
might ensue.
This closed the period of negotiation, and the following morning the
trenches at Ohaghadak were attacked and captured by a force commanded
by Lieutenant-Colonel J. S. Corlett, 15th Lancers, and co uposed as under : —
' A ' Squadron, 15th Lancers.
Bushire I. M. A. Section.
Detachment 54!th S. and M.
2-113th Infantry (800 rifles).